TED Talks, Radiolab, and Open Source Education

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To follow up a bit on my RV Resources post, we’d like to share some brain resources with you. The general theme of these resources is the abundance of high quality educational – and fun – information on the internet.

I believe strongly that the best book in any subject – even subjects that you “don’t like” – can be entertaining. You might not like science fiction, but the best sci-fi book out there is probably great enough for you to really enjoy it. Same with things like math and history.

It’s easy to find excellent books in any category, but here are some tools for finding fantastic, entertaining talks on new topics.

TED Talks: These talks range from a few minutes to twenty minutes in length, cover a huge variety of topics, are delivered by some of the most prominent people in their field, and are free. Go watch a five-minute talk on bioluminescence or virtual choir.

Radiolab: I think that Jad Abumrad and Rober Krulwich are two of the most fun people to listen to. They relate wonderful and otherwise-obscure stories (real life) through interviews, discussion, and a brilliant use of sound. Listen to an episode on animal minds or unintended consequences.

Open-Source Education: Classes from top-notch professors at prominent universities are available to everyone online, for free. Check out MIT classes on economics or management, or a Harvard course on justice. Also, take ten minutes to read this Wired article on how Khan Academy is changing education around the world